The District of Columbia leads the nation with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, Colorado being the leading state with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011, the release stated.

According to the release, other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively.

"Looking past the bricks and mortar, people are at the heart of what buildings are all about," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer (CEO) and founding chair of the USGBC.

"Examining the per capita value of LEED square footage in these states allows us to focus on what matters most — the human element of green buildings," Fedrizzi added.

LEED is the internationally recognized mark of green building excellence, with more than 44,000 projects commercial projects participating, comprising over eight billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries, the release noted.